coyotes on the offense in AZ.

[kyote]

MST on Monday, November 6, 2006

By Dmitry Rashnitsov, Fox 11 News

Several wild animals are responsible for attacks on people throughout the area.

Four people have been bitten by a coyote near San Ignacio and Canoa Hills Golf Course on the south side of Green Valley. All the victims are undergoing rabies shots.

“Every effort is being made to locate and remove the coyote from the area of the attacks,” said Gerry Perry, Arizona Game and Fish Department. “In the interim, however, the most important thing to remember is don’t feed the wildlife.”

Also a woman was attacked on November 1st by a javelina while hiking in the Gates Pass area. She too is undergoing a rabies vaccination.

The Pima Animal Care Center wants to remind people to keep their pets safe from wild animals as well.

They say to keep your pet on a leash when walking them and also remember to vaccinate your dog.

“Our number one responsibility is rabies control,” said Dr. Bonnie Lilley, Chief Veterinarian for the Pima Animal Care Center. “We must take every step to ensure our pets are protected from this terrible disease.”

Perry wants people to be extra cautious if they live in the Green Valley area.

“If possible, avoid walking your dog in the late afternoon or evenings near the San Ignacio Golf Course, and refrain from sitting on the backyard patios in the evening hours until the coyote is caught,” Perry said.

[onecoyote]

kyote, I've heard of coyotes bitting people before, even attacking kids. When you think about it, it all comes down to basic math. Add more and more people into coyote country = bites and attacks. I believe part of the problem is coyotes losing fear of man and getting use to seeing humans all the time.

I've been on tons coyote kills over the years, sometimes other coyotes were in the area and I've never got close to being attacked. Many of those times were at night when it would be easy for a coyote to sneak up.  Many of these bites and attacks occur close to or on the outskirts of a town.

[Glanceblamm]

Opportunist plain and simple.
First you have to feed the coyotes...
then the fear is gone and they feed on your pets...
Then the attacks on kids and even adults.

[oso45-70]

It seems to me that someone needs to do some animal control work in that area. This is serious business, I hope some child does not get bit by some renegade coyote. You would think that some of the local Predator hunters would take up the cause and get rid of the problem. Its Obvious it is going to get worse as time goes on if nothing is done to stop the human predation by wild animals............Joe...........

[dw06]

kyote, I've heard of coyotes bitting people before, even attacking kids. When you think about it, it all comes down to basic math. Add more and more people into coyote country = bites and attacks. .

Add more and more coyotes into people country=bites and attacks.Here in northeast where I live we didn't have coyotes till in the mid 80s game depts of a couple states got bright idea of reintroducing them here.Now on a ridge above my house they raise youngins and you hear them at night.A couple even went down town in middle of the day,not good.Caught one eyeballing my dog one night,but so far no attacks on people but I'm afraid its just a matter of time.Hope I'm wrong

[oso45-70]

dw06

We give the government free reign to do whatever they want to do and look what happens,,, Take for example the wolves. We now have wolves in the south west, They haven't been a problem for the people but they have done a ton of damage to the livestock industry and guess who gets to pay for it? { Yep the tax payers do } They ask the ranchers to keep quite about it and dole out the money for the damage the wolves do and we pay the bill. I have friends in the southwest part of the state and they sheepishly tell me they make a bundle off of the wolves kills. Frankly i think they have way too much authourity but how do you make yourself heard? When it comes to a court case the Government comes down on the tree huggers side every time, Just a few ideas to ponder...........Joe.............

[dw06]

oso 45-70

Yeap you are right.Funny part is,or sad depending on how you look at it,I remember back then people telling game wardens in mid 80s they saw a coyote,this was south western pa where I worked at the time,they said noway.Couple years later a guy shot one in deer season,then ask if they had brought any into the area.No was the answer,well he told them it had a tag in the ear with a number onit,well all of a sudden they admitt to turning 25 out.By the way the tag no was 13,guess if there would'nt have been a tag,we would have never been told the truth.Now they are every where,even in northern panhandle of wv where I live.
 Of course a fwe hunters hunt them,but they get smart and you never get ride of them.